LHR flights struggling

[gaucho99]

"You always hope for a strong start right out of the gate," says Andrew Nocella, US Airways' senior vice president for planning. "But I would describe Heathrow's start as not what we'd hoped for. It's going to be a tough market. In this case, there's a large influx of capacity, and prices are down."

Full article:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/t...nterstitialskip

 

[PHL]

I still don't get why Heathrow has always been so hotly sought after. It's like a bunch of people lining up to get into the cool club for many years until finally the velvet rope opens and they find it's like any other bar.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

"You always hope for a strong start right out of the gate," says Andrew Nocella, US Airways' senior vice president for planning. "But I would describe Heathrow's start as not what we'd hoped for. It's going to be a tough market. In this case, there's a large influx of capacity, and prices are down."

Full article:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/t...nterstitialskip

gaucho99,
The big problem is the flight arrives way too late, 11:05 am in the UK -- half the day is over already. Business travelers and tourists want to arrive earlier. There are a lot of cruise ships leaving out of Southampton (a 90-minute drive away) this flight gets in way too late for people to make their cruises. I know it's probably a slot thing, but it's a badly timed flight.

Later,
Eye

 

[YVINTERN]

To be honest loads did seem too low for PHL/LHR since it's inauguration last month.

 

[Travelpro72]

But hey you DO get to enjoy the "American Experience" at midnight on your way to LHR. 🙄

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

But hey you DO get to enjoy the "American Experience" at midnight on your way to LHR. 🙄

you skeptic--i am sure the "american experience with light sauces" runs circles around BA's premium service 🙄

is there anyway to determine BA's load factor (recognizing LF does not reflect profitability) on the PHL-LHR route?

 

[zethya]

....is there anyway to determine BA's load factor (recognizing LF does not reflect profitability) on the PHL-LHR route?

These are approximate numbers but are likely within 5% of the actual numbers (e.g., June 2007 range +-
4.4) and are skewed only by possible Daily Seat count changes due to rare aircraft substitutions. It should be
noted that when BA uses a 777 on a TA route, they have to be guaranteed acceptable First Class Loads
(fares in the range of 3 x Full Envoy Fare/seat pod) - or they use 767s. It is also not unusual for the entire
BA First cabin to be Sold out (PHL-LHR). Note: these Loads are summed combined directions

(PHL-LHR-PHL) for all flights:
June 2007 = 89%
July 2007 = 86%
Jan 2007 = 66%
Mar 2007 = 76%

I really think it's a little early (and a bit naive for USA Today to expect) a significant number of passengers
who have been flying to LHR for years on a specific carrier to switch their allegiance to US/NW/CO/DL 2
months after starting their routes. Also, the high tourist season hasn't even started. I'd assume, the US
marketing people have been vigorously attempting to sell seat blocks to commercial passengers
(corporate travelers) - have they?

 

[PHLfa88]

gaucho99,
The big problem is the flight arrives way too late, 11:05 am in the UK -- half the day is over already. Business travelers and tourists want to arrive earlier. There are a lot of cruise ships leaving out of Southampton (a 90-minute drive away) this flight gets in way too late for people to make their cruises. I know it's probably a slot thing, but it's a badly timed flight.

Later,
Eye

Cruises Do Not Depart Untill After 5😛M ! 🙄

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Cruises Do Not Depart Untill After 5😛M ! 🙄

PHLfa88,
You sure about that? Southampton isn't Fort Lauderdale or Miami. P&O cruises depart at 3 and 4, Royal Caribbean at 4 and Cunard, when they are in port, at 5. 🙄

The point is, the flights get in too late and that may be hurting the load factor.

Later,
Eye

 

[PHL Approach]

Tonight was the heaviest booking so far from what I've been following - 289. Of course it taxiied out to 27L... and had to come back due to a FLT Control problem.

 

[Art at ISP]

Let's get real folks.

Given a choice between US and BA, a carrier with a REAL premium product, which are YOU going to choose if you are a business traveler?

In contrast, did the flight move from LGW to LHR or are they both still running? And if so, how is LGW doing?

 

[PHLfa88]

PHLfa88,
You sure about that? Southampton isn't Fort Lauderdale or Miami. P&O cruises depart at 3 and 4, Royal Caribbean at 4 and Cunard, when they are in port, at 5. 🙄

The point is, the flights get in too late and that may be hurting the load factor.

Later,
Eye

When a Cruise Originates, It Usally Leaves At 5Pm. I Have Taken MANY, MANY Cruises, Either In The States Or In Europe And They ALWAYS Left At 5😛M 🙄

Cheers!

 

[jimntx]

I still don't get why Heathrow has always been so hotly sought after. It's like a bunch of people lining up to get into the cool club for many years until finally the velvet rope opens and they find it's like any other bar.

LHR is the preferred airport for London/U.K. by business travelers for the same reason that LGA is the preferred NYC airport for those travelers--closer to the city.

A lot of the preferred status for LHR is traditional. There was a time when BA was the only world-spanning airline. You could go anywhere in the world on BA from LHR. Other airlines who didn't offer flights to sub-Saharan Africa (for instance) or smaller countries in the Middle East wanted to connect to those flights.

 

[FlyUs]

Maybe they should discontinue flights to LGW from PHL and direct all traffic to LHR.